Ibrahimovic included in United’s Champions League squad

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been named in the Manchester United squad for the group stages of this season’s Champions League.

Despite leaving the club earlier in the summer, Ibrahimovic returned last month, but is still sidelined with a knee ligament injury sustained in April.

There has been speculation suggesting the the Swede won’t feature for United in 2017, but Mourinho’s decision to include him in his European squad would suggest that he may return to action sooner than anticipated.

United will play Basle, CSKA Moscow and Benfica in Group A.

Speaking last month, Mourinho said he doubted Ibrahimovic would be fit for any of the six fixtures but would name him in his squad anyway.

Mourinho said: “He will not be ready for the group phase of the Champions League, I don’t think there is any chance of that.

“Do we have space in the Champions League list to have him? Yes, we have. So we don’t need to leave any player outside of the list.

“But I’m not thinking Zlatan to play any part in the group phase. Hopefully he can play in the knockout phase.”